PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

Estonia's Pärnu Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Pärnu

Pärnu faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 74 thousand across 20 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.8µg/m³. That's 1.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 113 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Pärnu met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.19 years longer.

That's 14K years of life stolen from 74 thousand people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Pärnu. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Häädemeeste
0.3 years lost
2.Saarde
0.3 years lost
3.Kihnu
0.2 years lost
4.Tahkuranna
0.2 years lost
5.Surju
0.2 years lost
6.Pärnu
0.2 years lost
7.Paikuse
0.2 years lost
8.Tõstamaa
0.2 years lost
9.Sindi
0.2 years lost
10.Sauga
0.2 years lost

Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³

5-10 µg/m³

100%

74K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 20 Districts in Pärnu

Complete air quality data for every district in Pärnu, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Pärnu	26K	7.1	0.2 years
Audru	11K	6.6	0.2 years
Tõstamaa	5K	6.8	0.2 years
Sauga	4K	6.6	0.2 years
Paikuse	4K	7.0	0.2 years
Saarde	3K	7.7	0.3 years
Tori	3K	6.3	0.1 years
Vändra	3K	5.9	0.1 years
Halinga	3K	5.7	0.1 years
Häädemeeste	2K	7.9	0.3 years
Sindi	2K	6.8	0.2 years
Tahkuranna	2K	7.4	0.2 years
Are	1K	6.1	0.1 years
Varbla	1K	6.3	0.1 years
Vändra vald (alev)	949	5.7	0.1 years
Surju	869	7.3	0.2 years
Koonga	753	5.9	0.1 years
Kaisama	729	5.7	0.1 years
Kihnu	486	7.4	0.2 years
Lavassaare	407	5.8	0.1 years

Showing 20 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Pärnu is Injurious to Health.